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What if you could sit across from someone who spoke with those who walked with Jesus, but everything he told you sounded almost too strange to believe? Papias of Hierapolis claimed to preserve eyewitness testimony from the apostolic generation, including bizarre sayings of Jesus about supernatural vineyards and a grotesque account of Judas' death that will haunt you. This bishop's writings have vanished from history, leaving only fragments that raise an urgent question: Was he a faithful guardian of apostolic truth, or a well-meaning collector of legendary embellishments? Tune in now to learn why the early Church couldn't decide either, and why it matters for how we understand the Gospels today.
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Become a paid Substack subscriber to access devotional/historical study guides for each episode. Your subscription directly supports the creation of more episodes and helps keep church history accessible to everyone.
Buy Me a Coffee
Want to support the podcast with a one-time gift or ongoing contribution? Head to Buy Me a Coffee, where you can encourage this work in whatever way makes sense for you. Every contribution helps cover production costs and makes future episodes possible.For any other questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact Jared at [email protected].
By Jared Luttjeboer5
3535 ratings
What if you could sit across from someone who spoke with those who walked with Jesus, but everything he told you sounded almost too strange to believe? Papias of Hierapolis claimed to preserve eyewitness testimony from the apostolic generation, including bizarre sayings of Jesus about supernatural vineyards and a grotesque account of Judas' death that will haunt you. This bishop's writings have vanished from history, leaving only fragments that raise an urgent question: Was he a faithful guardian of apostolic truth, or a well-meaning collector of legendary embellishments? Tune in now to learn why the early Church couldn't decide either, and why it matters for how we understand the Gospels today.
Join the Conversation
Head over to our private Facebook community, where listeners discuss episodes, grapple with historical questions, and share insights on how these ancient stories shape our faith today. It's a place for genuine conversation with fellow church history enthusiasts, from seasoned scholars to curious newcomers.
Get Episodes & More in Your Inbox
Subscribe to the free Substack and receive each podcast episode delivered directly to your email every week, complete with full transcripts. During off-weeks, you'll also receive a devotional blog post exploring spiritual themes connected to recent episodes—perfect for personal reflection or small group discussion.
Unlock Premium Content
Become a paid Substack subscriber to access devotional/historical study guides for each episode. Your subscription directly supports the creation of more episodes and helps keep church history accessible to everyone.
Buy Me a Coffee
Want to support the podcast with a one-time gift or ongoing contribution? Head to Buy Me a Coffee, where you can encourage this work in whatever way makes sense for you. Every contribution helps cover production costs and makes future episodes possible.For any other questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact Jared at [email protected].

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